Emerging Country Artist Warren Zeiders Opens Up About TikTok Triumph, Dream Collaborations, and Beyond

Country artist Warren Zeiders has captured the attention of TikTok users with his hit song "Ride the Lighting." Since then, his star has been rapidly rising, fueled by the success of his debut album, Pretty Little Poison.

In an exclusive interview with We, the 24-year-old Zeiders reflects on his lifelong passion for music. He shares that while no one had ever encouraged him to pursue a career in music, it was through social media that he discovered a devoted following who inspired him to chase his dreams. Zeiders vividly remembers his first live performance in front of a sold-out crowd, realizing in that moment that performing music was his true calling.

The Hershey, Pennsylvania native, David McLister, made his debut with his first EP, 717 Tapes, in October 2021. Following the viral success of his track "Ride the Lighting" on TikTok, McLister caught the attention of Warner Records and secured a spot on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. In August, he released his album Pretty Little Poison and is eagerly looking forward to performing his chart-topping hits live during his upcoming fall tour.

David McLister

"[I will] continue showcasing new tracks from my debut album, Pretty Little Poison, [while] exploring familiar cities and states, as well as venturing into uncharted territories to connect with fresh audiences and expand my fan base," Zeiders explains to Us. Discover more about this talented country singer below:

On His Dream Collaborator

"Chris Stapleton has always been my instinctive choice," Zeiders states to Us. "His music and vocal style have consistently struck a chord with me. He truly serves as a source of inspiration for me, which is why I viewed the chance to record his track 'Inside Your Head' for my first album as an incredible opportunity."

On His Alternate Profession

According to Zeiders, if he were to pursue a different career path, he would still prefer to stay involved in the music industry. He envisions himself taking on a managerial role for an artist or working in artist marketing.

On His Favorite Song He’s Written

Zeiders has a particular fondness for the title track of Pretty Little Poison. According to him, "The day I wrote this song, I immediately recognized its unique qualities and its potential to deeply resonate with many individuals. It holds a special place in my heart because of the challenges I encountered during its creation. I must have performed this song at least 500 times, refusing to release it until I felt a genuine connection between the performer and the lyrics."

His dedication and effort yielded results. "It has been truly incredible witnessing the swift and profound impact it has had on countless individuals," he shares with Us. "There is no greater satisfaction than performing this song on stage night after night and experiencing the entire audience singing every word along with me."

On His Go-To Karaoke Song

“Don’t have time for karaoke,” he jokes. “If you mean singing with my boys on the bus, ‘Trick or Treat’ [by] Young Dolph.”

On What’s Next

Along with performing live on the Pretty Little Poison tour this fall, Zeiders plans to “keep putting the pen to paper and writing and recording for the next project already.”